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Our Way to Roam

1987 Mercedes-Benz Unimog 1300L

The Story

Our Unimog began it’s life as a German military “krankenwagen” or ambulance. It was decommissioned by the German military in 2021 and purchased by Atkinson VOS who exported it to the UK. 

This Unimog is a 1300L model which is also known as the U 435.  Unimogs feature portal axels, a coil spring and torque tube suspensions, locking differentials, crawling gears, and extreme axel articulation, just to name a few things. The Unimog is a rugged vehicle used in the most extreme terrains and environments around the world. Known for it’s capability and all mechanical simplicity, they are off-road vehicles that can also be driven on road.

We always knew a Unimog was our dream vehicle platform but until now, the barriers seemed insurmountable. In the fall of 2022 we decided the Unimog would be our next full time home and we were determined to do whatever we could to make it happen. Our Unimog was purchased from the Unimog specialist shop Atkinson VOS in the UK that December, with plans to convert it into our dream global expedition vehicle.

After a lot of thought and planning, we decided to make the habitat out of a composite material to save on weight and increase the insulation value to create a true 4 season camper. We decided to have the camper box and subframe manufactured by Atkinson VOS as the hurtles to accomplish these specific tasks correctly became much harder once the vehicle was in the United States.  

In October of 2023, our new (to us) Unimog arrived in the United States and the build began. This Unimog will now become our new full time home.

Follow along on Youtube as we work through the build process in a weekly video build series showing the ups and downs of building your home on the back of one of the world’s most capable vehicles!

The Unimog Build Series

Want to watch the Unimog being built?

We documented every step of the process in our Youtube build series!

Build Sponsors:

Use code OURWAY10 for 10% off Tern Overland Products
Use code ‘WAYTOROAM15’ for $15 off

This page contains affiliates links! If you click on them, we will receive a tiny commission. AND… we often have a coupon code for you! Win/Win! Rest assured, the products that we link are the ones that we USE, included in our build and believe in.

Build Details

the basics:

The Vehicle:

1987 Mercedes Unimog 1300L (U435)

Ex-German Military Ambulance

Purchased From: Atkinson VOS UK

Mileage at purchase: 18,000

Engine: OM366A

Fuel Type: Diesel

Wheelbase: 3250mm

Size:

Vehicle Body Length (with camper): 20.5ft

Exterior Height: 11ft 4in

Exterior Camper Height: 82in

Exterior Camper Width: 90.5in

Exterior Camper Length: 150in

Camper Square Ft: 75sqft

Interior Camper Height: 76in

Interior Camper Length: 144in

Interior Camper Width 85in

Vehicle GVWR: 16,500lbs

Before
After (As Of Summer 2024)

find all Amazon Available Components of this build here:

Build Products

WATER SYSTEM

100 Gallon Fresh Water Tank

7 Gallon Handheld Gray Water Tank for Sink Located Under Sink

Kingston Brass Bridge Faucet

Ceramic Vessel Sink

Rheem (Richmonnd) 2 Gal Water Heater with 24v Heating Element Conversion (Find our full step by step water heater conversion plan here)

Convertible Shower – Collapses from full standing shower to 6 in wall

Custom Graded Stainless Steel Shower Pan

Teak Shower Floor Mat

12v Water Pump

Water Pump Strainer Filter

Tern External Water Fill Hatch with Lock (Use code OURWAY10 for 10% off Tern Overland Products)

General Ecology Seagull IV X-2KB Water Filter

We have two videos about our water system
👇🏻 Part 1 & Part 2 👇🏻

foldable hard-walled shower

Our Unimog build features the prototype of our one of a kind convertible hard-walled shower!

This is our original design that turns a full shower space into a 6 inch wall in under 60 seconds!

See it in action:
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Our Way To Roam (@ourwaytoroam)

Watch our electrical installation video!

POWER (24V SYSTEM)

(3) 500w Bifacial Trina Vertex Solar Panels

Custom Aluminum Roof Rack Mounted With Korapop 225 Adhesive

1120ah of EVE LiFePO4 280ah Grade A Cells

60A MPPT Victron Energy SmartSolar Charge Controller

2000W Victron Energy MultiPlus Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Victron Energy Orion 24/12v DC-DC Converter

ElectroDacus SBMS0

Victron Energy Lynx Distributor

Distribution Center (AC and DC Circuits)

230v/16A Shore Power Electrical Receptacle and  Electrical Plug (Use code OURWAY10 for 10% off Tern Overland Products)

(8) 110v outlets

(2) 4 Port USB outlets

(2) LED Dimmer Switches for Puck Lights

(2) Rocker Switch Panels

Marine Grade Stranded Wire Throughout

Blue Sea Systems Main Power ON/OFF Switch

Solar ON/OFF Circuit Breaker Switch

Appliances

Vitrifrigo DRW180 AC/DC Electric Refrigerator Freezer

Treeligo 24v Mini Split Air Conditioner

Wallas Nordic DT Stove & Heater

Wallas 86D Oven (Newer Version Available 2024 76D)

watch Our Full installation and review of the Wallas appliances:

Exterior

 

Tern Overland: (Use code OURWAY10 for 10% off Tern Overland Products)

  • Arctic Tern Wildlands Entry Door
  • Arctic Tern Classic Windows (4)
  • Arctic Tern Cargo Doors (2)

Scissor Entry Steps

Custom Cab Roof Rack

Triple R Lighting:

  • Triple-R RP Spot
  • Triple-R Linear 48 Light Bar
  • Triple-R LR-1250 Light Bar
  • Sentinel 7″ Elite
  • Utility-25 Maxx

ComeUp 18,000lb Winch

Maxxair Maxxfan Rooftop Vent

Wireless Backup Camera

Appliance Vents 

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